Original Research Neurological examination of healthy term infants at ages 6 and 10 weeks in Tshwane District

Marna Nel, Ute Feucht, Helen Mulol, Carina A. Eksteen

About the author(s) Marna Nel, Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
Ute Feucht, Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Helen Mulol, Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Carina A. Eksteen, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Care Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Globally, there is a significant gap in detailed neurodevelopmental data for infants under 3 months, despite 6 weeks being identified a critical milestone for neuro-behavioural development. Normative values and optimal scores for healthy infants at 6 and 10 weeks postnatally are lacking in many settings. In South Africa, the statutory neurodevelopmental assessments at these ages exclude notable characteristics of central nervous system maturation and limit opportunities to collect data of early developmental progress.

Objectives: Our study aimed to assess developmental characteristics of healthy term infants aged 6 and 10 weeks using the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE).

Method: A prospective longitudinal study was performed on 35 healthy term-born infants from low-risk pregnancies at 6 and 10 weeks’ postnatal age in the Tshwane district. The statuses of infants’ neurodevelopment in six domains were recorded using the HNNE. Optimality scores were derived from the raw scores of 34 items, using the 10th and 5th percentiles as cut-off points.

Results: Evidences of neurodevelopmental advancements, particularly in posture, muscle tone and visual behaviour between 6 and 10 weeks were illustrated, and total examination optimality scores of 29.5 in 91% and 31.5 in 94% of infants were recorded at 6 and 10 weeks, respectively.

Conclusion: This article provides data on the neurodevelopment characteristics of infants at and between 6- and 10-weeks post term ages.

Clinical Implications: The findings support the viewpoint to identify important milestone characteristics during early screening.

 

Keywords

infants; Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination; neurodevelopment; optimality scores; milestone characteristics; Sustainable Developmental Goals

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 4: Quality education

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